LOST ON MOUNTAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20249, 8 May 1929, Page 10

LOST ON MOUNTAIN.

YOUTHS LIE DOWN TO SLEEP.

HOSTEL WITHIN 400 YARDS.

OVERTAKEN BY DARKNESS

[BX TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday.'

To bo lost in the bush within practically a stone's throw of their objective was the experience of four young men from the Ohangai district, who made the ascent of Mount Egmont yesterday. Unaware on tho return journey that they were within 400 yards of tho Dawson Falls House, for which they were seeking, they had decided to settle down for the night in the bush. Three of them actually were asleep when they were found by a search party. Although the experience was a trying one, the climbers, Messrs. Douglas Green, George Harding, Jerry Hinga and Geoffrey Keenan, did not suffer any serious consequences.

Leaving'the house at about 11.30 a.m. the youths reached the summit shortly before 4 p.m. The descent was commenced half an hour later. Without Alpine equipment it proved difficult and very slow, owing to the glazed surface of the frozen scoria'. Darkness overtook the party when about half-way down Fantham's Peak. Fair progress was made along the bush track until their supply of matches became exhausted. Thereafter they groped their way slowly through the inky blackness. By keeping to the main track they actually reached a point about 200 yards from the hostel, but on encountering a seat which Had been passed unnoticed in the morning, they concluded that they were on the wrong route. Steps were retraced to the top junction of the main and the old bush tracks. The latter track was then taken, but still failing to pick up their bearings, they decided to remain on the track until daylight. There, at a point within 400 yards of Dawson Falls House, they were found shortly before midnight, and within 15 minutes of the time the search began". "Although the threat of a tragedy had taken almost the aspect of a joke," said the guide, Mr. J. P. Murphy, to-day, "the incident contained a serious warning to those lacking knowledge of the mountain. For the past week the rocks have been coated with ice for about 1500 ft. from the summit. These conditions, preceding the winter snowfall, are most dangerous for climbing." He urged that other people wishing to ascend th.e mountain should ask about the conditions and not climb in ignorance.